How We Work
Tailored Support for Every Student
At St Marylebone CE Bridge School (SMBS), we use an Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) approach to ensure every student receives the right support at the right time. Our IDT, which includes speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, behaviour and wellbeing practitioners, and teaching staff, works collaboratively to review and adapt the support provided to each student. This integrated approach allows us to address a wide range of developmental, emotional, and communication needs seamlessly within the school day.
The IDT meets weekly to coordinate interventions and monitor progress. During these meetings, we proactively identify students who may need to move between tiers of support—whether they require additional help through our Supplemental or Enhanced offers, or can benefit from stepping down to less intensive support. By combining expertise from across disciplines, we ensure every student’s needs are met in a holistic, effective, and timely manner.
Core Offer
Our Core Offer is the foundation of our approach and is designed to meet the needs of the vast majority of our pupils. By embedding therapeutic strategies into everyday routines and teaching, we create a communication-friendly, emotionally supportive environment where all students can succeed.
- Integrated Strategies: Whole-school approaches to communication and wellbeing, embedded in classroom teaching and routines.
- Timetabled Lessons: Weekly sessions focusing on mental health, protective behaviours, and communication skills.
- Collaboration with Teachers: Joint planning between therapists and teaching staff to embed support into lessons, with ongoing guidance for staff.
- Assessments and Monitoring: Comprehensive assessments on entry, annual reviews, and regular progress monitoring.
- Training: Regular workshops and CPD for staff to ensure consistency and confidence in delivering therapeutic strategies.
Supplemental Offer
We recognise that many pupils may need specific additional support at some point during their time with us. When this happens, we provide time-limited interventions tailored to address their individual needs and goals.
- Supplemental support is flexible and can include individual or group sessions, mentoring, or targeted wellbeing and therapeutic support.
- This level of intervention is reviewed regularly and is designed to achieve specific outcomes before being phased out.
Enhanced Offer
Some students may face significant challenges accessing learning or engaging with the school environment. For these students, we aim to provide flexible and intensive Enhanced Support where possible to address their needs:
Key Features:
- Personalised strategies to support engagement, emotional regulation, or access to lessons.
- Short-term provision designed to reduce dependency and reintegrate students into the wider school community.
- Enhanced support depends on available resources and capacity but remains a key part of our commitment to meeting the needs of all students as effectively as possible.